The Suarez Law Firm, P.A.

12/08/2025

Florida's pretrial detention system has changed dramatically over the past year, with three waves of legislative and procedural reforms reshaping how defendants are treated from arrest through detention hearings.
Our latest article summarizes these changes and examines what they mean for criminal defense, including why first appearance now carries more weight than ever and the constitutional concerns these rules raise.
https://suarezlawfirm.com/news-and-blog/floridas-new-pretrial-rules-tilt-the-scales-toward-detention/

By Eddie Suarez and Sara Mieczkowski / https://suarezlawfirm.com Given all the changes to Florida’s pretrial detention system over the past year, we thought it might be helpful to summarize and synthesize the new rules and explain how they impact criminal defense practitioners. Three waves of legi...

11/18/2025

Medical device manufacturer Aesculap just settled False Claims Act allegations for $38.5 million after allegedly selling defective knee implants for 13 years.
What's surprising: a nearly identical settlement amount resolved billing fraud allegations against another company where no patients were harmed. Our analysis examines what drives FCA settlement valuations and what medical device manufacturers need to know about managing compliance and investigation risks.

By Eddie Suarez and Sara Mieczkowski / www.suarezlawfirm.com Medical device manufacturer Aesculap Implant Systems agreed last week to pay $38.5 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations spanning nearly 13 years. The government alleged the company knowingly sold knee replacement devices that wo...

11/14/2025

Friends, if you advise companies on FCA exposure, especially with cybersecurity certifications, please read our latest blog article in which Sara Mieczkowski and I explore the significance of yesterday’s report by Anthropic that an AI agent acting with superhuman speed had successfully infiltrated a number of sensitive targets.
https://suarezlawfirm.com/news-and-blog/the-ai-espionage-threat-how-autonomous-cyberattacks-create-false-claims-act-liability-for-government-contractors/

By: Eddie Suarez and Sara Mieczkowski / www.suarezlawfirm.com Yesterday, Anthropic issued a chilling report (https://www.anthropic.com/news/disrupting-AI-espionage) revealing that in mid-September 2025, it detected what it calls “the first reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign.” A Ch...

11/05/2025

Federal sentencing just changed dramatically. Effective November 1, 2025, the Sentencing Commission eliminated virtually all departure provisions that have been part of the system since 1987.
Our analysis explains the new simplified process, how it affects defense strategy, and why attorneys need to update their approach immediately. From resolved circuit splits to supervised release reforms, these amendments reshape federal sentencing practice.
https://suarezlawfirm.com/news-and-blog/the-new-federal-sentencing-landscape-what-defense-lawyers-need-to-know/

By Sara Miezkowski and Eddie Suarez The End of Departures Federal judges have followed a three-step sentencing process for two decades. First, calculate the Guidelines range. Second, consider whether any formal departures apply. Third, decide whether to vary from that range under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a...

10/28/2025

The Supreme Court will soon clarify a question that has confused federal criminal practitioners for years: What happens when a judge tells a defendant he can appeal, even though the defendant signed an appeal waiver?
The case, Hunter v. United States, involves a circuit split that affects the vast majority of federal criminal cases. We examine what defense lawyers should do now and how the decision could reshape plea negotiations.
https://suarezlawfirm.com/news-and-blog/supreme-court-to-decide-when-appeal-waivers-actually-waive-the-right-to-appeal/

By: Sara Meizkowski and Eddie Suarez The Supreme Court granted certiorari on October 10, 2025, in Hunter v. United States (No. 24-1063), a case that will clarify when defendants who sign appeal waivers in plea agreements can still challenge their sentences. The case addresses a circuit split that ha...

10/21/2025

Georgia Tech just settled a False Claims Act case for $875,000 over cybersecurity compliance failures—without any actual data breach occurring.

The case demonstrates that government contractors face FCA liability for failing to meet cybersecurity requirements in DoD contracts, and that whistleblowers from inside IT teams are driving enforcement. Our analysis covers the legal theories, defense strategies, and what contractors should do to reduce risk as CMMC implementation expands.

https://suarezlawfirm.com/news-and-blog/government-contractors-face-rising-risk-georgia-tech-settles-cybersecurity-false-claims-act-case-for-875000/

By Sara Mieczkowski and Eddie Suarez The Department of Justice announced on September 30, 2025, that Georgia Tech Research Corporation has agreed to pay $875,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to meet federal cybersecurity requirements. The settlement highlig...

10/15/2025

https://suarezlawfirm.com/news-and-blog/new-trade-fraud-task-force-raises-fca-risks/
Coordinated Federal Action on Trade Fraud: What It Means for FCA and White-Collar Defense
The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have jointly launched a cross-agency Trade Fraud Task Force—an initiative that signals an escalation in how the federal government will pursue customs and tariff evasion. This collaboration between DOJ’s Civil and Criminal Divisions and DHS’s investigative arms (CBP and HSI) is expected to drive parallel enforcement under the Tariff Act, False Claims Act, and criminal fraud statutes.
Our latest article analyzes the implications of this development for white-collar and False Claims Act practitioners. We examine how this initiative will reshape the enforcement landscape—particularly through enhanced information sharing, whistleblower engagement, and integrated civil–criminal strategies.
Read the full analysis to understand how the new Trade Fraud Task Force changes the risk calculus for importers and their affiliates—and what steps companies should take to prepare.

By Sara Miezkowski and Eddie Suarez On August 29, 2025, the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security launched a cross‑agency Trade Fraud Task Force to coordinate civil and criminal enforcement against tariff evasion, customs fraud, and smuggling, formalizing collaboration among D...

08/21/2025

We are honored to share that Eddie Suarez has been named Tampa’s 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Criminal Defense: White-Collar by Best Lawyers.
This recognition is especially meaningful as it marks the second time in the past five years that Ed has been recognized as "Lawyer of the Year."
The Lawyer of the Year designation is awarded to a single lawyer in each practice area and geographic region, based on the highest overall peer feedback received during the annual Best Lawyers peer review process. With only one lawyer recognized per field and city, this distinction reflects the deep respect and regard Ed has earned from his peers for his professionalism, integrity, and dedication to client advocacy.
In addition to Lawyer of the Year honors in white-collar criminal defense, Eddie was also recognized as a Best Lawyer in the areas of:
Commercial Litigation
Criminal Defense: General Practice, and
Qui Tam Law
We are also delighted to announce that Rachel May Zysk was recognized for the eighth consecutive year as a Best Lawyer in the areas of:
Criminal Defense: General Practice
Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and
Qui Tam Law
We are grateful to our colleagues in the legal community for this recognition and proud to celebrate Eddie's and Rachel's continued excellent work on behalf of our clients.

08/21/2025

Emerging Circuit Splits in FCA Litigation: Why They Matter
Federal appellate courts are increasingly divided on core False Claims Act questions, and those divisions are shaping where cases are filed and how they are defended.
Our latest article examines three issues currently driving this uncertainty:
Causation in Anti-Kickback Statute cases – a growing majority applying a strict but-for standard, in direct conflict with the Third Circuit’s “link” approach.
Rule 9(b) pleading standards – a split over whether relators can use discovery to cure deficient complaints, with significant implications for venue strategy.
Constitutional challenges to qui tam provisions – a pending Eleventh Circuit case that could fundamentally alter the role of relators in FCA enforcement.
These divisions have consequences for defendants, relators, and in-house counsel—and they increase the likelihood of Supreme Court review.

By Sara Mieczkowski and Eddie Suarez The U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals are increasingly divided on key issues under the False Claims Act (FCA). These divisions tend to directly influence where cases are filed and how they are defended. Below, we highlight several significant circuit splits affectin...

08/01/2025

This week Eddie Suarez and Sara Mieczkowski each moderated panels at the Honorable Elizabeth A. Kovachevich Thirty-Fourth Annual National Seminar on Federal Sentencing presented jointly by Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. This annual seminar is regarded as one of the most informative seminars focusing exclusively on federal sentencing.

07/16/2025

DOJ is signaling a new era of enforcement in healthcare fraud.
Recent actions including the relaunch of the FCA Working Group are reshaping the compliance and defense landscape.
Civil enforcement under the False Claims Act is expanding, with six priority areas ranging from Medicare Advantage upcoding to EHR manipulation.
For a more robust understanding of the impact of DOJ’s priorities including its intent to leverage advanced data analytics to detect billing anomalies in FCA enforcement, read our latest blog article:
https://suarezlawfirm.com/news-and-blog/doj-enforcement-update-key-developments-in-healthcare-fraud-and-fca-strategy-for-defense-counsel/
We continue to be grateful for the methodical analysis of Sara Mieczkowski and the contribution of our colleague and healthcare regulatory lawyer extraordinaire, Michael Igel.

By: Eddie Suarez and Sara Mieczkowski (we are grateful for the assistance and contribution of our friend and colleague Michael Igel, a Florida Bar Certified Health Law practitioner. For more information visit: https://www.jpfirm.com/people/michael-a-igel/) The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) latest ...

07/03/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Eddie Suarez has been recognized in the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers list in the area of white-collar criminal defense. This marks the 20th consecutive year that Eddie has been included as a Florida Super Lawyer!